N° 76–2001: José Achache is the new ESA Director of Earth Observation

Meeting at the Agency's headquarters in Paris on 19/20 December, the ESA Council appointed José Achache, of French nationality, to the post of Director of Earth Observation, for a four-year term.

José Achache, 48, obtained his doctorate in geophysics at the Pierre et Marie Curie University in 1979 and his doctorate in physical sciences at the René Descartes University. He started his career in 1978 at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris as a Research assistant, then "Chargé de Recherche" and in 1989 was appointed Professor, Director of the Department of Space Studies and director of the Graduate School of Earth Sciences. In 1996 he joined the Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières as deputy director of the Research Division and the following year became its director. In 1999, he was named advisor to the President of the French Space Agency (CNES) and in 2000, was appointed by him deputy director general for science.

José Achache is expected to take up his duties at the beginning of next year.